Former Socceroo Dario Vidosic could become the first Australian manager to lead an English team to FA Cup glory after his never-say-die Brighton women pulled off an amazing comeback to reach the final with a 3-2 win at Liverpool.
In the Wembley showdown, his high-flying Seagulls, featuring Matildas international Charli Rule, will face English champions Manchester City, who pulled off their own great fightback on Sunday to win 3-2 at Chelsea, as Mary Fowler kick-started their revival with a magnificent goal.
But for Chelsea's Sam Kerr there was nothing but agony as Australia's 'Queen of the FA Cup' scored her 19th goal in 17 matches in the competition but, controversially, also had what appeared a perfectly good goal disallowed.
With much speculation that her future lies in America's NWSL with Denver next season, it means the 32-year-old Kerr won't get her hoped-for Wembley swansong.
The second semi at Stamford Bridge was deposed WSL champions Chelsea's chance for redemption, and it was all going swimmingly when Erin Cuthbert's eighth-minute goal and Kerr's simple header into an empty net, after a mistake by City's keeper Khiara Keating just before the hour, put them two up and cruising.
But Fowler, only brought on a couple of minutes earlier as a substitute, then conjured up an 86th-minute goal out of nothing, firing home a left-foot strike from 20 metres out — her first goal for City since February 2025 — to give hope where there had been none.
Star striker Khadija Shaw then did the rest, levelling with a fine volley on the turn in added time before heading home from Yui Hasegawa's cross in extra-time.
But Chelsea fumed about a clear 10th-minute goal that Kerr had bundled home, with the ball having been incorrectly ruled out of play when Ellie Carpenter sent in the assisting cross.
For Vidosic, though, it was a triumphant day. The 39-year-old, who has carried on in England where he left off in Australia as Melbourne City's A-League Women-winning boss, saw Brighton battle back from 2-0 down after 22 minutes before going on to prevail with a stoppage-time clincher.
So, he is the first Australian manager to reach the final since Joe Montemurro last guided Arsenal to the 2021 showdown, but could go one better than the current Matildas coach who lost both his two Gunners' finals.
"It is a nice feeling when almost the last kick of the game hits the back of the net and sends us to Wembley," smiled Vidosic, after substitute Nadine Noordam struck a dramatic 95th-minute winner at Liverpool's St Helens home.
"The message to the girls will be 'enjoy this moment, they deserve this moment'. We want to continuously get better, and we want to go undefeated for the rest of the season."
He has done a remarkable job at the ambitious south-coast club, taking them to a record fifth-place in last year's Women's Super League, and having beaten both champions City, in the WSL, and European champions Arsenal, in the FA Cup, last month.
Liverpool felt they had been on course for the Wembley showdown on May 31 after first-half goals from Denise O'Sullivan and Beata Olsson.
But Albion levelled through Manuela Vanegas and Madison Haley before Dutch midfielder Noordam, who had been on the pitch for only six minutes, lashed home her first goal for the club.
